Chloroform today is found in
numerous things such as automobile exhaust, sewage treatment plants, and
by-products of chlorinated drinking water. Chlorine is added to drinking water
to kill the bacteria found in the water. The chlorinated water then contains
impurities of chloroform. The total release of chloroform in the air around us
is estimated to be 470,000 tonnes per year just in 1997
(http://www.inchem.org/documents/cicads/cicads/cicad58.htm#2.0).
Chloroform is also used in numerous pesticides, as well as dyes, however in 1982
chloroform can not be used as pesticide in California. It is also used
in rubber, grease, floor polish, and even gum. Another use of it is in dry
cleaning to help remove stains. Chloroform is also used in the production of
fluorocarbons and heat transfer medium in fire extinguishers. Chloroform can
also be found sometimes in various cosmetics. Chloroform is also
commonly found as a biocide due to the fact that it kills almost all bacteria
and viruses. Beginning 1999, chloroform has been use in the
production of hydrochlorofluoro-22, a refrigerant, instead of
dichlorodifluoromethane which is used in commercial freezers and home air conditioners.

Obtained

Chloroform
is produced naturally when microorganisms found in soil give off specific
chloride-emitting enzymes. The chloride which results then acts with organic
matter to form a natural chloroform.

Chloroform also is obtained naturally when Chlorine molecules mix with
fulvic acid.

You can make chloroform by causing a reaction between Hypo chlorite
and Acetone. Hypo chlorite can be found in a sodium form which is in bleach,
also in calcium salts and it is found in pool shocks (used to keep swimming
pools clean). This reaction creates a thermal energy and because of this is
extremely exothermic, releasing energy in the form of heat, making the
experiment dangerous to do. This
is part of the reason why while making chloroform this way, the experiment
must be kept cool to prevent boiling or vaporization. If the bleach begins
to boil it will send chloroform and bleach fumes into the air.It is suggested that you do not try to create chloroform due to that
fact that it can and has been deadly. Chloroform that is stored can let off
a chemical called phosgene which is a poisonous that was used in WWI.

Effects of chloroform

The effect of chloroform can be quite serious and even deadly. An
oral dose of 10 ml of chloroform can and will result in the death of a
person. This is because it effect the heart beat and will cause the victim
to go into cardiac arrest. Being exposed to chloroform by breathing it in
over a long period of time can cause damage to the liver, skin, kidneys, and
central nervous system. When chloroform is in the vapor state it can cause
eye irritation and other minor symptoms such as nausea, headaches,
light-headedness, and irritation to the throat. Chloroform is also known as
a carcinogen, which is an agent that causes cancer. In the liquid state
chloroform causes server burns.